Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Australia
Australia: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 1.56 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Australia, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Australia is 1.56, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Australia peaked at 2.31 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.46, in 2007.
Australia ranks 164th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.31 | — |
| 1991 | 2.21 | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 2.11 | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 2.03 | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 1.95 | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 1.87 | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 1.8 | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 1.74 | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 1.68 | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 1.64 | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 1.6 | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.56 | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 1.54 | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 1.51 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 1.5 | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 1.48 | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 1.47 | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 1.46 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 1.46 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.46 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.46 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.46 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.46 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.46 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.47 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 1.47 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.49 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 1.5 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 1.51 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.52 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 1.54 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 1.55 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.56 | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.93 | 1.64 | 2.31 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.5 | 1.46 | 1.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.48 | 1.46 | 1.52 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.55 | 1.54 | 1.56 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0316 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 1.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Australia?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Australia was 1.56 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.31 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.46 in 2007.
- How does Australia rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- Australia ranks 164th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).